Background to this inspection
Updated
8 September 2022
The inspection
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (the Act) as part of our regulatory functions. We checked whether the provider was meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Act. We looked at the overall quality of the service and provided a rating for the service under the Health and Social Care Act 2008.
As part of this inspection we looked at the infection control and prevention measures in place. This was conducted so we can understand the preparedness of the service in preventing or managing an infection outbreak, and to identify good practice we can share with other services.
Inspection team
The inspection was carried out by two inspectors and an Expert by Experience. An Expert by Experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.
Service and service type
This service is a supported living and residential respite centre for people with learning disabilities and autistic people. Supported living services provide personal care to people living in their own houses. The respite residential home is a short stay care home. People in care homes receive accommodation and nursing and/or personal care as a single package under one contractual agreement dependent on their registration with us. Mallow Crescent is a care home without nursing care. CQC regulates both the premises and the care provided in the residential part of the service, and both were looked at during this inspection.
Registered Manager
This service is required to have a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. This means that they and the provider are legally responsible for how the service is run and for the quality and safety of the care provided.
At the time of our inspection there was a registered manager in post.
Notice of inspection
We gave a short period notice of the inspection because some of the people using it could not consent to a home visit from an inspector. This was because people are often out and we wanted to be sure there would be people at home who consented to speak with us. We also needed to be sure that the provider or registered manager would be in the office to support the inspection.
Inspection activity started on 5 July 2022 and ended on 12 July 2022. We visited the location’s office/service on 5 and 7 July 2022.
What we did before the inspection
We reviewed information we had received about the service since the last inspection. We used the information the provider sent us in the provider information return (PIR). This is information providers are required to send us annually with key information about their service, what they do well, and improvements they plan to make. We used all this information to plan our inspection.
During the inspection
We communicated with seven people who used the service and eight relatives of the people about their experience of the care provided. We spoke with 14 members of staff including the registered manager, deputy manager, senior managers, house leaders and support staff.
We reviewed a range of records. This included five people’s care plans and multiple medicines records for people supported with their medicines. We looked at recruitment checks and training records for three staff members. A variety of records relating to the management of the service, including policies and procedures were also reviewed.
Updated
8 September 2022
About the service
Mallow Crescent is a supported living and residential short stay respite care home service for people with learning disabilities and autistic people who may have additional physical support needs. The supported living homes and the residential home are located close by in one residential area. The care home can accommodate up to six people and at the time of the inspection only one person used this service. There were 28 people receiving support with personal care in the supported living services and in the local community. The whole service supported 29 people at the time of the inspection.
People’s experience of using this service and what we found
We expect health and social care providers to guarantee people with a learning disability and autistic people respect, equality, dignity, choices and independence and good access to local communities that most people take for granted. ‘Right support, right care, right culture’ is the guidance CQC follows to make assessments and judgements about services supporting people with a learning disability and autistic people and providers must have regard to it.
Right Support:
People received person-centred support which encouraged them to work towards their own goals and to live the life they wanted. Where people wanted to move on, this was supported despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. People’s needs were discussed with them and their representatives before they started using support at Mallow Crescent. The provider was reviewing their assessment processes to continue to improve them and how they were aligned with the Right support, right care, right culture guidance.
People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible and in their best interests; the policies and systems in the service supported this practice.
Right Care:
People and their relatives told us staff were kind, compassionate and caring. We observed staff treating people with respect and involving them in their support. Staff were sensitive and patient when people experienced difficulties. People’s support records included guidance for staff how to support them to feel valued, secure and comfortable.
Right Culture:
People and their relatives knew the staff team and management. They told us management were approachable and visible and they felt comfortable raising any concerns, trusting they would be listened to and appropriately addressed. People were encouraged and supported to raise complaints and had regular opportunities to be involved in reviews of their support. The management team supported staff to be competent for their roles and reviewed the quality and safety of the service, creating a culture of speaking up and positive challenge to improve people’s experiences.
For more details, please see the full report which is on the CQC website at www.cqc.org.uk
Rating at last inspection
The last rating for this service was outstanding (published 30 January 2020).
Why we inspected
We undertook this inspection as part of a random selection of services rated Good and Outstanding.
We looked at infection prevention and control measures under the Safe key question. We look at this in all care home inspections even if no concerns or risks have been identified. This is to provide assurance that the service can respond to COVID-19 and other infection outbreaks effectively.
Follow up
We will continue to monitor information we receive about the service, which will help inform when we next inspect.